Born in Germany, Petra originally studied Fashion Design in Milan and worked for many years in the industry. In 2004 she moved to Washington DC and fulfilling a lifetime dream, she studied Photography at the Corcoran College of Art and Design and became a freelance photographer.
Over the last 15 years, she has worked primarily in Latin America, but as well in Asia, Africa and Europe.
The emphasis in her work lies on communities with the focus at human, social and environmental issues. In her photographs she creates an emotional connection with the viewer, while simultaneously evoking interest in the story of the picture. She is looking for an intuitive moment, to be able to reach deeper and create a new visual layer.
She works with the Duke Human Rights Center as well worked in the past with the IACHR Inter-American Center of Human Rights.
Since 2008 her work is part of the David M. Rubenstein 'Rare Book, Manuscript and Special Collection Library' for the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.
AWARDS
- Center Santa Fe, Juror's Choice Award 2017
- Houston Center for Photography, Beth Block Honoraria 2016
- IPA 2015, 1st Place Editorial, Political
- PX3 Prix de la Photography de Paris 2015, Gold for the category Nature
- PX3 Prix de la Photography de Paris 2015, Bronze for the category Press
- PX3 Prix de la Photography de Paris 2011 – 2015 Honorable mention
- One Shot 2015, Honorable Mention
- PX3 Prix de la Photography de Paris 2013, Gold for the category Press
- PX3 Prix de la Photography de Paris 2013, Silver for the category Press
- IPA Honorable Mention 2008 - 2015
- PX3 Prix de la Photography de Paris 2011, Bronze for the category Feature Story
- PX3 Prix de la Photography de Paris 2011, Bronze for the category Press
- PX3 Prix de la Photography de Paris 2011, Silver for the category Travel
- IPA 2008, 3rd place winner
- Px3 Prix de la Photography de Paris 2007, Exhibition Winner
- Golden Light Award, 2006
- Marcel Bardon Memorial Award 2005
EXHIBITIONS
- Biennale Venice 2017, Palazzo Mora, the Backpackers part of the 'Personal Structures' exhibition
- Galleria de Arte Colombo Americano, Medellin Colombia 9/8/2017 - 10/27/2017
- Ragusa Foto Festival, Sicily, Italy 6/30/2017 - 7/30/2017
- MOPLA Month of Photography LA Book Exhibition 1/2017
- C40 Mayors Summit 2016, Mexico City Chapultepec Parc 11/30/2016 - 1/2017
- HCP Houston Center for Photography, 34th Annual Juried Membership Exhibition 7/22/2016 - 9/4/2016
- Climate Change Summit COP21, Paris 2015
- The New American Garden, National Building Museum NBM, Washington DC 10/17/2015 - 05/01/2016
- One Shot Exhibit, LA 4/2015
- Chernobyl, Antonin Kratochvil and Workshops, Manes Gallery, Prague 5/4/2011 - 5/31/2011
- 'al margen', Durham NC, Duke University Special Collection Gallery, Friedle Gallery, Latin America and the Carribean 1/17 – 5/1/2011
- 'al margen', Washington DC, OAS Organization of the American States and IACHR Inter-American Center of Human Rights, 11/18 - 01/8/2011
- Shaken, Miami, Haitian Heritage Museum, Earthquake in Haiti and Chile, Un Techo para mi Pais NGO, 05/10 – 06/10
- El Salvador, WOLA Washington DC 4/1/08 -6/30/08
- FotoViajeros, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC, 1/16/08 2/10/08
- Human Conditions, Farmani Gallery, Los Angeles, 3/6/08 3/31/08, New York, Paris
LINKS
- http://lenscratch.com/2017/06/centers-project-launch-jurors-choice-award-petra-barth/
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/petra-barth-photographs-the-deported-backpackers_us_58fa5f51e4b0f02c3870e9c2
- https://www.ai-ap.com/publications/article/21033/photographer-profile-petra-barth-i-hope-to-cr.html
- http://www.ai-ap.com/publications/dispatches-from-latin-america/2017/02/
- https://www.lensculture.com/articles/petra-barth-the-backpackers-los-mochileros
- http://www.monthofphotography.com/mopla-photo-book-exhibition
- http://www.luciefoundation.org/programs/c40-mayors-summit-mexico-city/
- http://www.hcponline.org/exhibits/exhibitions/view/109/34th-annual-juried-membership-exhibition
- http://bookarts.us/Finelimitededitionbookbinding.html
- http://www.luciefoundation.org/programs/cop21/
- http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/dystopian-spaces-and-societal-woes-inform-hcps-juried-membership-exhibit-8593460
- http://tclf.org/sites/default/files/microsites/new-american-garden/sorg-residence.html
- http://tclf.org/sites/default/files/microsites/new-american-garden/OvSGalleryGuide_2015_download.pdf
- http://www.stinehoureditions.com/book-design/
- http://www.blurb.com/b/6217846-walking-on-water
- http://www.monthofphotography.com/events/oneshot
- Catholicism at Crossroads: Reactions to Evangelism is Guatemala
http://sites.duke.edu/history136a_01_s2011_jx24/2011/02/26/petra-barth-segues-to-liberation-theology/ - http://shaken.untecho.org/about/
- http://heyevent.com/event/1545649989040364/documentary-screening-clarksdale-mississippi
- Brazil's gritty favelas through the eyes of Petra Barth
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/arts-post/2010/12/brazils_gritty_favelas_through.html - http://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/findingaids/barthpetra/
- http://ms-modern.com/art/barefoot-workshops-photography-film-screening/
- TECHO works to overcome poverty in slums.
http://www.untechoparamipais.org/english/pagina-principal/media-room/news/page/3/ - http://haitianheritagemuseum.org/exhibit.html
COLLECTIONS
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Private Colletion
PUBLICATIONS
- Climate Smart Evolution
- lenscratch 6/2017
- AI-AP ProPhotoDaily
- lensculture 1/2017
- The Backpackers/ Edition of 300
- The Backpackers/ Los Mochileros Limited Edition 2016, Book Arts Limited US
- The New American Garden
- Walking on Water 2015
- Mesoamerica, Stinehoureditions 2007
- Human Conditions Catalog 2007